ceoi4椎
Jyutpingceoi4
Yalechèuih
Definition
A mallet or hammer, or the act of beating and striking with one.
writtendaily actions
How it's used
While 椎 is historically used for a hammer or to strike, modern Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 槌 for the tool itself. Using 椎 in daily speech can sound slightly literary or archaic, as it is more commonly encountered in written texts or specific idioms. If you are referring to the physical object found in a toolbox, 槌 is the standard choice to avoid confusion.
Measure word
baa2把báExamples
He is holding a hammer and wants to break the lock.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 椎 with 錘, which refers to a heavy weight or a mallet. Additionally, avoid using 椎 in casual conversation as it may be mistaken for the medical term for a vertebra, which is also written as 椎.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
